IP Library › Granted Patent US 12685415
Granted Patent B2
US 12685415 · App. 18/369,665 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Mobile cleaning robot suspension

Inventors: Timothy R. Ohm (Grover Beach, CA); Erik Amaral (Bolton, MA)
Assignee: iRobot Corporation
A47L9/009A47L11/28A47L11/4066A47L11/4072A47L2201/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12685415
App. No.
18/369,665
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mobile cleaning robot can be movable within an environment, the mobile cleaning robot can include a body and a drive arm movable with respect to the body between an extended position and a retracted position. The robot can include a drive wheel connected to the drive arm and movable therewith. The drive wheel can be operable to move the mobile cleaning robot. The robot can include a first link connected to the body and connected to the drive arm. The robot can include a second link connected to the body and connected to the drive arm to, together with the first link, the body, and the drive arm, define a center of rotation about which the drive arm and the drive wheel rotate between the extended position and the retracted position.

Claims (42)

1 . A mobile cleaning robot movable within an environment, the mobile cleaning robot comprising:

a body;

a drive arm movable with respect to the body between an extended position and a retracted position;

a drive wheel connected to the drive arm and movable therewith, the drive wheel operable to move the mobile cleaning robot;

a first link connected to the body and connected to the drive arm;

a second link connected to the body and connected to the drive arm to, together with the first link, the body, and the drive arm, define a center of rotation about which the drive arm and the drive wheel rotate between the extended position and the retracted position; and

a stop connected to the second link and engageable with the first link to limit rotation of the drive wheel and the drive arm past the retracted position, and engageable with the first link to limit rotation of the drive wheel and the drive arm past the extended position.

2 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 , wherein the first link and the second link are connected to the body and the drive arm to locate the center of rotation in front of the drive wheel when the drive wheel is between the extended position and the retracted position.

3 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 , wherein the first link and the second link are connected to the body and the drive arm to locate the center of rotation at or below a drive shaft axis when the drive wheel is between the extended position and the retracted position.

4 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 , further comprising:

a biasing member connected to the body and the drive arm to bias the drive arm toward the extended position.

5 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 4 , wherein the biasing member includes a compression spring.

6 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 4 , wherein the drive arm is pivotably connected to the body, the first link is pivotably connected to the body and the drive arm, and the second link is pivotably connected to the body and the drive arm.

7 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 6 , wherein the biasing member is pivotably connected to the drive arm and the body.

8 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 , further comprising:

a limit switch connected to the second link and engageable with the first link or the drive arm, the limit switch configured to generate a limit signal when the first link engages the limit switch and activates the limit switch.

9 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 8 , wherein the drive arm includes a projection configured to engage the limit switch.

10 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 , further comprising:

a motor connected to the drive arm and movable with the drive arm, the motor including a drive shaft rotatable about a drive shaft axis that is perpendicular to a drive wheel axis of the drive wheel.

11 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 , wherein the first link has a first width and the second link has a second width that is smaller than the first width.

12 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first link and the second link connect to the body at a location below a drive wheel axis of the drive wheel when the drive wheel is in the retracted position.

13 . A mobile cleaning robot movable within an environment, the mobile cleaning robot comprising:

a body;

a drive arm rotatable with respect to the body between an extended position and a retracted position;

a drive wheel connected to the drive arm and movable therewith, the drive wheel rotatable about a drive axis to move the mobile cleaning robot;

a first link pivotably connected to the body and pivotably connected to the drive arm;

a second link pivotably connected to the body and pivotably connected to the drive arm to, together with the first link, the body, and the drive arm, define a center of rotation about which the drive arm and the drive wheel rotate between the extended position and the retracted position, the center of rotation located in front of the drive wheel in each position of the drive wheel and the drive arm between the extended position and the retracted position; and

a motor connected to the drive arm and movable with the drive arm, the motor including a drive shaft rotatable about a drive shaft axis that is perpendicular to a drive wheel axis of the drive wheel.

14 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 13 , wherein the first link and the second link are connected to the body and the drive arm to locate the center of rotation at or below a drive shaft axis when the drive wheel is between the extended position and the retracted position.

15 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first link and the second link connect to the body at a location below a drive axis of the drive wheel when the drive wheel is in the retracted position.

16 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 13 , wherein the first link has a first width and the second link has a second width that is smaller than the first width.

17 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 13 , further comprising:

a limit switch connected to the second link and engageable with the first link or the drive arm, the limit switch configured to generate a limit signal when the first link engages the limit switch and activates the limit switch.

18 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 17 , wherein the drive arm includes a projection configured to engage the limit switch.

19 . A mobile cleaning robot movable within an environment, the mobile cleaning robot comprising:

a body;

a drive arm movable with respect to the body between an extended position and a retracted position;

a drive wheel connected to the drive arm and movable therewith, the drive wheel operable to move the mobile cleaning robot;

a first link connected to the body and connected to the drive arm;

a second link connected to the body and connected to the drive arm to, together with the first link, the body, and the drive arm, define a center of rotation about which the drive arm and the drive wheel rotate between the extended position and the retracted position; and

a limit switch connected to the second link and engageable with the first link or the drive arm, the limit switch configured to generate a limit signal when the first link engages the limit switch and activates the limit switch.

20 . The mobile cleaning robot of claim 19 , wherein the drive arm includes a projection configured to engage the limit switch.